How should you hold the egg?

Grip the thinner end of the egg with your index finger and thumb and hold the rest of the egg with your other fingers. Leave a small space between your index and middle finger—this is where the egg will crack. Curl your fingers under the egg, pushing it up into your palm (not too hard because you don’t want to break the egg in your hand). Now, you’re ready to crack the egg.

Where should you crack the egg?

Cracking eggs on the side of a bowl not only breaks the eggshell, but it also pierces through the thin membrane surrounding the egg itself. When this happens, there’s a greater chance that small shards of eggshell will mix with the liquid once the whites and yolks are released into the bowl. To crack an egg cleanly, tap the egg on the inside of a bowl or on top of your work surface. Steer clear of edges.

What now?

Once you’ve cracked the underside of the egg, place it over your bowl. Using your thumb and index finger, pull the smaller end of the eggshell away from the other end. No need to separate the halves too much—the egg white and yolk will easily slide out of the crack between your index and middle finger.